“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
-Hebrews 12:1-2
“Alright, I’ll get under his left armpit, and lift him at the back. Parker, you get under his right arm and you two each carry one of his legs on your shoulders. Everyone good?” A variety of half nods and grunts from the other four. “Alright boys. Three… two… one… UP!”
Perhaps I should back up. Yesterday I flew back from training camp; a ten day crash course in the heat of Atlanta, Georgia during July. There I met my squad of fifty for the first time, and got a glimpse of what life on the field is going to look like for the next nine months.
Each day was packed with different scenarios designed to simulate some of the challenges we may experience during our time abroad. These included cultural dishes during meal times, a 12 hour layover simulation, and what happens when the airport loses half of your squad’s bags.
There were also a series of challenges which we completed within our teams of eight. These aided in making us communicate and work more cohesively as a team. The goal in all of it: Start as a team; End as a team. Learn not to hate each other along the way.
My team consists of myself and seven other guys ranging in age from 18-20. Together we represent states ranging from the west coast to east and include skiers, a mountain biker, wrestler, multiple singers, a cinematographer and photographer. Eight radically different testimonies that all lead to World Race training camp.
The first couple days blurred together in a jumble of seminars, meals and worship sessions. During our third day at training camp our team is informed that the following morning we will be participating in the Man Hike: a three mile stretch of the AT that lead up and then down a mountain in a big loop. What we were not told was that we would need to carry one of our team members the mile and a half up the mountain, and another would be blindfolded.
Following a quick team discussion we decided that the best way to carry our suddenly handicapped member would be to place two people under his arms and back, while another two in front each shouldered one of his legs. We then designated our remaining team mate to lead the now blind member of our group.
The incline was steep, and at times the path narrowed enough to force those carrying on the outside a couple feet off the path and into the forest. Nevertheless we made it to the top an hour later, our panting breath and sore shoulders mitigated by the promise of a hearty lunch.
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Our second hike came two days later. To ensure that everyone can keep pace in the event that our Squad is forced to quickly hike into or out of a location, Adventures In Missions requires that every racer complete the Fitness Hike: A 2.2 mile hike with your pack completed in under 38 minutes.
As my team lined up on the start line and I leaned over to our trainer and just to mess with him asked, “So is this a bad time for me to pee or…” Before he could gather his thoughts enough to put together a response, the airhorn blasted and we were off. Sure enough our team quickly spread out, each member setting their own pace.
The course was hilly, and the time requirement meant that if you weren’t going uphill you were jogging. Still, my teammate Drew and I pushed through and were among the first quarter of our squad to finish. We immediately dumped our packs and picked up our water bottles. After we finished downing our fill of H2O I noticed something incredible. Those on our squad who had finished earlier were running back out onto the course and jogging beside their fellow racers, shouting encouragements and challenging them to keep going.
“Let’s just run to that tree up ahead. Yeah! Awesome job. Can you run with me to that bush just up there? You got this! We’re right beside you.”
Racers started arriving at the finish line alongside one or two of their squad-mates. They would share in a quick celebration together, shed their pack, and then all three would head back out to find someone else in need of encouragement. As the hike went on and more racers finished, kids began to cross the line with five, ten, fifteen of their friends chanting “You got this! We’re right beside you”.
As the final minute approached, one racer still hadn’t crossed the line, and looking out onto the final stretch there was no sign of her. Then, all of a sudden she appeared out from behind the bend and onto the last hundred yards of the course. Just behind were fifty of her squad mates, and everyone last one was chanting her name.
It must have looked awesome from the finish line. I wouldn’t know. I was running right beside her. Between repetitions of her name I would say, “You got this! We’re right here beside you.” I said it over and over until she crossed the line.
As I ran across that line with her, something inside me clicked. I understood that while salvation is like the man hike, true discipleship is much closer to the fitness hike. Allow me to explain:
Just like the man hike, while we were still at the bottom of the mountain Christ came down from the top and took us under His arm and carried us up, leading us in our blindness until at last we arrive at the top, washed clean and in the fullness of God’s presence. We didn’t have to work for our salvation. Instead, He gladly puts us all on His shoulders and carries us into the love and forgiveness found in the presence of God.
Discipleship on the other hand is something entirely different. Instead of being carried you must instead choose every day to pick up your cross (or your pack) and pursue intimacy with the Father (Matthew 16:24-26). Spending time in the word, in prayer, fasting, meditating; Just like the fitness hike these steps aren’t easy, but I keep running towards the finish line because I serve a God more beautiful than I could ever comprehend, and He has invited me into relationship. Into freindship. Please don’t misunderstand and think I’m saying you must earn God’s love. But a relationship requires two parties interested in pursuing one another. Spending the time to get to know the other’s heart, what makes it sing and what breaks it.
So I’ll keep pursuing, keep running with eyes fixed on him the race marked our before me. And I know He’s running right next to me because I can hear him chanting my name. And every once in a while, if I lean in close, I can hear Him whispering, “You got this. I’m right beside you.”
